Niamey's decision to formalize local self-defense units called Domol Leydi is the latest sign that Niger's security crisis has worsened, moving beyond a conventional counterterrorism problem and into a broader struggle for territorial control. The government says the...
Egypt Cuts Nighttime Economy to Reduce Electricity Consumption
Responding to a severe energy crisis amplified by the war in Iran, Egypt introduced a nationwide 9 p.m. closing time for shops, restaurants, cafés, and entertainment venues. The decision reflects immediate pressure on the country's energy system. Egypt relies on...
Gulf War Escalates as Energy Markets Reel and Regional Fronts Multiply
The war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States continues to intensify across multiple fronts, raising concerns about energy supply disruptions and broader economic consequences. The conflict, which began on February 28, has already triggered sharp movements in...
West Africa: Jihadist Attacks Intensify in Northern Benin Amid Cross-Border Insurgency Pressure
Armed attacks attributed to Sahel-based jihadist groups have intensified in northern Benin in recent weeks, highlighting the continued spread of militant activity along the country’s borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. On March 4, fighters linked to the Group for the...
Desert Locusts Stir Fresh Worries in North-West Africa
Agricultural authorities in several parts of North and West Africa are maintaining surveillance for desert locust activity following recent reports of small swarms detected near Algeria’s southwestern border. The monitoring reflects the importance of the western...
Mali Army, Russian Allies Accused of Executing Civilians Near Mauritania Border
Malian troops and their Russian allies are accused of executing refugees and civilians near the Mauritanian border, according to RFI. The French media outlet said seven people who had just crossed from Mauritania into Mali were killed on Friday, March 6, in the Ahl El...
TOP REGIONAL HEADLINES
Algeria: Supply Disruptions and Rising Food Prices Amid Transport Strike
A nationwide freight transport strike in Algeria is disrupting food supply chains and driving sharp price increases across local markets. Reduced truck movements have slowed deliveries to wholesale distribution hubs, limiting the availability of fruits and vegetables and placing pressure on household budgets. Key agricultural and commercial regions are reporting thinning stocks, while retailers warn that prolonged disruption could exhaust remaining supplies. The situation highlights structural vulnerabilities in logistics networks and the direct link between transport continuity, food availability, and price stability.
MAGHREB
Energy Markets Are Reacting to Iran, But Not Panicking Yet
By Arezki Daoud: This morning, I spent a little more money on gasoline at the pump in Miami, but I admit I expected to pay much more. And so as I...
Morocco Detains Civic Activist Amid Online Speech Concerns
Authorities in Morocco have detained another young activist in what appears to be a developing pattern involving members of the youth movement...
Tunisia: Arrest of Opposition Figure Olfa Hamdi Raises Concerns
A Tunisian civil liberties organization has publicly challenged the Tunisian authorities over the reported detention of opposition politician Olfa...
MAGHREB PAGE
SAHEL
Desert Locusts Stir Fresh Worries in North-West Africa
Agricultural authorities in several parts of North and West Africa are maintaining surveillance for desert locust activity following recent reports...
Mali Army, Russian Allies Accused of Executing Civilians Near Mauritania Border
Malian troops and their Russian allies are accused of executing refugees and civilians near the Mauritanian border, according to RFI. The French...
Niger: Armed Attacks Target Military Bases in Tahoua
In the early hours of March 9, 2026, armed militants launched coordinated assaults on military facilities in Tahoua, a city in northwestern Niger...
SAHEL PAGE
EGYPT
Egypt Deepens Defense-Industrial Engagement With China
Egypt is expanding its defense-industrial partnerships with China, with recent developments pointing to a growing emphasis on localized production,...
Sudan Conflict: Egypt’s Military Escalation After the Fall of El‑Fasher
Egypt appears to have shifted from diplomatic broker to covert combatant in Sudan’s war, in what may be the center of a widening regional proxy...
UAE Regional Influence Under Strain Amid Sudan, Libya, Yemen, and Maghreb Frictions
Across several regions, the United Arab Emirates is facing visible diplomatic and political friction with key Arab states. The developments span...
EGYPT PAGE
FOCAL POINTS
Libya: What is the storm that destroyed NE Libya? Meet Daniel
The flash flood that has killed thousands of people in Libya this week followed a "medicane", a rare but destructive weather phenomenon that scientists believe will intensify in a warming world. The term is an amalgamation of the words Mediterranean and hurricane....
Tunisian brand turns sea plastic into green couture
By Francoise Kadri: The two men in bright overalls rooting for plastic on a Tunisian beach do so to make a living, but also in the knowledge that they are helping the environment. What they do not know is that the waste will become part of a synthetic plastic fibre...
Culture: Tuareg flock to Algerian desert oasis for ancient festival
In a riot of colour, music and dance, thousands of Tuareg have flocked to the Sebeiba festival that marks the end of an ancient tribal feud and which once a year transforms an oasis town deep in the Algerian Sahara. The Tuareg are a semi-nomadic people of Berber...
POLITICAL AFFAIRS
French Interior Minister Renews Dialogue with Algeria
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s announced visit to Algiers marks a formal attempt to restart diplomatic engagement between France and Algeria after a period of strained relations. Discussions are expected to focus on security cooperation in the Sahel, the handling of deportation orders affecting Algerian nationals, and the case of imprisoned journalist Christophe Gleize. The visit takes place amid shifting regional dynamics, including Algeria’s growing role in Sahel security arrangements and recent signals of economic and political goodwill between the two countries.
MORE ON POLITICS
French Interior Minister Renews Dialogue with Algeria
By Mondafrique: Initially scheduled for December 2025 and postponed a second time in January, the long-awaited visit of the French Interior...
Egypt Names New Defense Minister in Reshuffle Amid Regional Strain
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi approved a cabinet reshuffle this week that brought in a new defense minister and changed a range of...
Morocco Allegations Reignite Spain’s Pegasus Debate
Spanish media commentary on the Pegasus episode involving Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez intensified this week (February 12, 2026), after a detailed...
Egypt and Turkey Test Pragmatic Rapprochement After Years of Estrangement
After more than a decade of strained relations, Egypt and Turkey are moving toward a pragmatic re-engagement shaped less by reconciliation than by...
Egypt Deepens Defense-Industrial Engagement With China
Egypt is expanding its defense-industrial partnerships with China, with recent developments pointing to a growing emphasis on localized production,...
Tunisia Appeals Court Extends Rached Ghannouchi’s Prison Term by 20 Years
A court of appeals in Tunis has sharply increased the prison sentence handed to Rached Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old leader of Tunisia’s Ennahda...
With Saif al-Islam Killed, Gaddafi Dynasty’s Political Ambitions All But Collapse
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, one of the most prominent sons of Libya’s former ruler Muammar Gaddafi and long viewed as his political heir, has been killed...
Morocco Reassures Public on King Mohammed VI’s Mechanical Lumbosciatica
Morocco’s Royal Palace has confirmed that King Mohammed VI is undergoing treatment for a mechanical lower‑back condition but emphasized that his...
French Law Eases Path to Nuclear Test Compensation for Algerian and Polynesian Victims
France’s National Assembly has unanimously approved a landmark reform that makes it easier for people harmed by its nuclear tests in Polynesia and...
Sudan Conflict: Egypt’s Military Escalation After the Fall of El‑Fasher
Egypt appears to have shifted from diplomatic broker to covert combatant in Sudan’s war, in what may be the center of a widening regional proxy...
Sudan Conflict: Egypt’s Military Escalation After the Fall of El‑Fasher
Egypt appears to have shifted from diplomatic broker to covert combatant in Sudan’s war, in what may be the center of a widening regional proxy...
UAE Regional Influence Under Strain Amid Sudan, Libya, Yemen, and Maghreb Frictions
Across several regions, the United Arab Emirates is facing visible diplomatic and political friction with key Arab states. The developments span...
Inside the US Decision to Target Specific Muslim Brotherhood Branches
The United States has designated three Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist organizations, targeting branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon...
Egypt’s Red Lines in the Horn of Africa Are Becoming Explicit
By Arezki Daoud: Egypt’s recent posture toward Somalia and Sudan reflects a clear strategic doctrine that is no longer implicit. Cairo is signaling...
PODCASTS
Pressure mounts in Algeria amid calls for resumption of Hirak | 18 June 2020
COVID-19: The Latest
Covid-19: Egypt bars unvaccinated employees and students from accessing public facilities
Egypt on Monday barred officials and students not vaccinated against Covid-19 from government offices and universities unless they show a negative PCR test. Officials who have not had a jab must show a PCR test, which is prohibitively expensive in Egypt, "every three...
Morocco lifts Covid curfew
Morocco on Tuesday said it was lifting a nationwide pandemic curfew thanks to an improving health situation and widespread vaccinations. Infections had surged in the North African country after it initially eased the curfew -- imposed early in the pandemic -- and...
Covid-19: Tunisia lifts nighttime curfew as virus cases fall
Tunisian President Kais Saied on Friday announced the lifting of a nighttime curfew in place since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but imposed vaccine certificates for public events. The curfew, currently in place between midnight and 5:00 am, will end on...
SECURITY, DEFENSE & TERRORISM
Iran War: How Tehran and Washington Stepped Back From the Brink
Trump’s threat to bring “civilizational” destruction to Iran collided with last‑minute diplomacy involving Pakistan and China,producing a fragile two‑week ceasefire that left both sides preparing for talks even as they quietly brace for the war to resume.
Niger: Armed Attacks Target Military Bases in Tahoua
In the early hours of March 9, 2026, armed militants launched coordinated assaults on military facilities in Tahoua, a city in northwestern Niger...
Algeria and Niger Relaunch Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline After Diplomatic Freeze
Algeria and Niger have formally reset strained bilateral relations and announced the operational relaunch of the long-delayed Trans-Saharan Gas...
Algeria and Niger Restore Ties, Signaling a Shift in Sahel Diplomacy
After nearly a year of tensions, Algeria and Niger have formally reset their relationship. On February 12, 2026, both governments announced the...
Nigeria: More than 160 people killed in Muslim communities in Kwara State
Nigeria’s Woro massacre in early February 2026 was a large‑scale attack on two mainly Muslim farming communities that left Muslim and Christian...
Niger: Roadside Bomb Kills Civilians Near Baroua in Diffa Region
An improvised explosive device struck a mixed transport vehicle near Baroua in Niger’s Diffa region at around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 10,...
Morocco Allegations Reignite Spain’s Pegasus Debate
Spanish media commentary on the Pegasus episode involving Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez intensified this week (February 12, 2026), after a detailed...
Egypt and Turkey Test Pragmatic Rapprochement After Years of Estrangement
After more than a decade of strained relations, Egypt and Turkey are moving toward a pragmatic re-engagement shaped less by reconciliation than by...
Egypt Deepens Defense-Industrial Engagement With China
Egypt is expanding its defense-industrial partnerships with China, with recent developments pointing to a growing emphasis on localized production,...
Southern Libya Boils Over: Three Haftar Soldiers Killed in Border Raid Near Niger
Three Libyan soldiers aligned with eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar were killed and several others captured in coordinated attacks on military...
Sudan Conflict: Egypt’s Military Escalation After the Fall of El‑Fasher
Egypt appears to have shifted from diplomatic broker to covert combatant in Sudan’s war, in what may be the center of a widening regional proxy...
Sudan Conflict: Egypt’s Military Escalation After the Fall of El‑Fasher
Egypt appears to have shifted from diplomatic broker to covert combatant in Sudan’s war, in what may be the center of a widening regional proxy...
Niger Airport Attack Deepens Sahel’s Security and Diplomatic Strains
An overnight assault on Niger’s main international airport has prompted a partial drawdown of U.S. diplomatic staff from Niamey and renewed scrutiny...
Defense: Mauritania and Spain Use Naval Exercises to Bolster Atlantic Maritime Security
Mauritanian and Spanish naval forces have conducted joint exercises off the coast of Nouadhibou, underscoring a growing security partnership in a...
Egypt’s Red Lines in the Horn of Africa Are Becoming Explicit
By Arezki Daoud: Egypt’s recent posture toward Somalia and Sudan reflects a clear strategic doctrine that is no longer implicit. Cairo is signaling...
SOCIAL, LABOR & THE ENVIRONMENT
Migration: 17 Migrants, Mostly Egyptians, Lost at Sea on the Road to Greece
Fourteen Egyptians where among 17 confirmed dead migrants after their boat capsized in rough seas south of Crete, highlighting once again the lethal risks of the Mediterranean route from North Africa to Greece.
French Law Eases Path to Nuclear Test Compensation for Algerian and Polynesian Victims
France’s National Assembly has unanimously approved a landmark reform that makes it easier for people harmed by its nuclear tests in Polynesia and...
Flashpoints: In Southern Chad, A Local Clash Reveals Deeper Fragility
Clashes in southern Chad between government forces and a little‑known rebel movement offer a window into how local conflicts feed into the...
Local Conflicts: State-Imposed Land Pact Struggles to Calm Tensions in Brakna, Mauritania
Authorities in Mauritania’s Brakna region have brokered a fragile peace deal aimed at ending a violent land dispute between neighboring farming...
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) in Morocco: Strong Hosting, Weak Crisis Management
Morocco delivered a technically strong Africa Cup of Nations in 2025. Stadiums were modern, logistics mostly worked, and the tournament ran without...
Climate: Severe Winter Rains Shut Down Schools in Northern Morocco This Week
Classes have been suspended across Ksar El Kébir from Monday, February 2 through Saturday, February 7, 2026, after heavy rainfall caused flooding...
Algeria: Supply Disruptions and Rising Food Prices Amid Transport Strike
A nationwide strike by freight transport operators that began last Thursday is increasingly affecting daily life in Algeria. The work stoppage has...
Irregular Migration to Spain Falls Sharply in 2025 With Decline in Atlantic Crossings
After reaching a historic high in 2024, irregular migration to Spain fell sharply in 2025. Official data show a decline of more than 40% compared...
Tunisia: Leading Labor Union in Turmoil
The possible resignation of Noureddine Tabboubi, the general secretary of the UGTT (Tunisian General Labor Union), is the culmination of a deep...
U.S. Immigration Policy and the Changing Landscape of Africa-U.S. Travel
As the United States prepares to implement a new round of immigration and visa policy changes in 2026, the effects are being felt across Africa and...
Tunis Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence Against Opposition Leader Abir Moussi
A Tunis appeals court has upheld a two-year prison sentence against opposition figure Abir Moussi, confirming an earlier ruling linked to charges...
U.S. Immigration Policy and the Changing Landscape of Africa-U.S. Travel
As the United States prepares to implement a new round of immigration and visa policy changes in 2026, the effects are being felt across Africa and...
Tunis Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence Against Opposition Leader Abir Moussi
A Tunis appeals court has upheld a two-year prison sentence against opposition figure Abir Moussi, confirming an earlier ruling linked to charges...
Environment: Algeria’s Race Against a Looming Water Collapse
Algeria is heading toward an acute water crisis, and the clock is ticking much faster than most policymakers admit. The country has already crossed...
Algeria to Introduce Digital Passport Renewal for Citizens Living Abroad
Algerian authorities are preparing to roll out an online passport renewal system for citizens living overseas, with implementation expected before...
BUSINESS & THE ECONOMY
Global Energy Markets Jolt as Iran War Disrupts Gulf Oil Flows
Oil prices surged toward $119 per barrel as the conflict involving Iran disrupted tanker traffic through the Persian Gulf, forcing several Gulf producers to reduce output and pushing governments to consider emergency energy measures. Saudi Arabia joined Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE in cutting production as shipments stalled and storage capacity tightened. With hundreds of tankers idling near the Strait of Hormuz and major shipping insurers suspending coverage, the crisis is rapidly evolving from a regional military conflict into a global energy shock.
Moroccan pharmacy unions push back against proposed ownership reforms
Morocco’s debate over whether to open pharmacy ownership to outside investors has sharpened after the Competition Council scheduled a new meeting...
Agriculture: Drought‑Hit 2025 Season Leaves Morocco More Dependent on Cereal Imports, According to FAO
Morocco is heading into 2026 with a mixed outlook for its cereal sector, as favorable early-season conditions contrast with an expected drop in...
Algeria’s 2,000‑Kilometer Mining Corridor: Rail, Iron Ore, and the Road to the Mediterranean
Algeria has officially opened a new rail line that links the remote southwest to the Mediterranean, a move with important implications for economic...
Algeria Expands Core Infrastructure Investment Across Core Sectors
Algeria is continuing a broad, state-led investment drive focused on basic infrastructure, spanning roads, railways, water systems, energy, mining,...
Air Algérie Expands Long-Haul Capacity With Second A330-900neo
Algeria's airline carrier, Air Algérie, has taken delivery of its second Airbus A330-900neo as part of an ongoing fleet renewal program focused on...
Tourists and Egyptians Abroad Support the Egyptian Economy
Egypt has just had a record year for both tourism and remittances, and these two inflows are now some of the biggest sources of foreign currency for...
Algeria: Supply Disruptions and Rising Food Prices Amid Transport Strike
A nationwide strike by freight transport operators that began last Thursday is increasingly affecting daily life in Algeria. The work stoppage has...
Morocco: Financial Authorities Probe Distressed Property Transactions, Money Laundering Concerns Grow
Financial intelligence authorities in Morocco have placed parts of the real estate sector under heightened scrutiny following alerts submitted by...
Algeria: Fuel Price Increase Triggers Brief Transport Disruption, Services Resume
Algeria entered 2026 with a moderate adjustment in domestic fuel prices, a move authorities say is necessary to secure national supply and sustain...
Tunisian Equity Market Posts Record Gains in 2025
Despite the unsettling political realities of Tunisia, the country's equity market closed 2025 with one of its strongest performances in decades,...
Algeria: Rail, Water, and Transport Drive 2026 Infrastructure Spending
Algeria’s 2026 finance law, officially published in the government gazette on Wednesday and entered into force on January 1, outlines a budget...
North Africa Tests the Limits of Ride-Hailing as Uber Returns Under Tight Control
Morocco is once again testing the boundaries of app-based urban transport, reopening a politically sensitive debate about mobility, labor...

